When the Duchess of Sussex signed a visitors’ book in Ireland last week, she revealed a signature with a surprising flourish. Graphologists claim handwriting is a key to our personality, so what does Meghan’s say? And what do other famous people’s signatures reveal about them? LORRAINE FISHER asked handwriting expert Tracey Trussell to reveal the secrets behind the sign-offs . . .
![DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Goodness knows what Meghan’s hiding behind the carefully constructed mask. This is the stylised handwriting of a woman who is good at creating a facade and to whom appearance matters very much indeed. The little touches, like that flamboyant hook at the start of her ‘M’, reveal that once she has set her heart on something, nothing will stop her until she’s satisfied her goal. The calligraphic hand tells of a desire for the nice things in life, and its regularity reveals intense self-discipline. She’ll not leave anything to chance — she has very high standards and the motivation for this is social approval. Meghan can be a little apprehensive in the face of anything new, however, and the small round letters in the middle of her signature indicate a surprising lack of confidence. This is a romantic, passionate and devoted woman, albeit one who is self-protective.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/01/4E69D8E300000578-5972769-image-m-2_1532045235550.jpg)
DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Goodness knows what Meghan’s hiding behind the carefully constructed mask. This is the stylised handwriting of a woman who is good at creating a facade and to whom appearance matters very much indeed. The little touches, like that flamboyant hook at the start of her ‘M’, reveal that once she has set her heart on something, nothing will stop her until she’s satisfied her goal. The calligraphic hand tells of a desire for the nice things in life, and its regularity reveals intense self-discipline. She’ll not leave anything to chance — she has very high standards and the motivation for this is social approval. Meghan can be a little apprehensive in the face of anything new, however, and the small round letters in the middle of her signature indicate a surprising lack of confidence. This is a romantic, passionate and devoted woman, albeit one who is self-protective.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BA7D00000578-5972769-image-m-11_1532049955758.jpg)
![ADELE Her signature is a metaphor for hitting all the right high notes, before she finally comes back down to earth. The crescendo is seen in the tall stems that reach right up high, and then peak, with little loops revealing the imagination she injects into her aspirations for greatness. The small capital letter ‘A’ for ‘Adele’, joined to the ‘D’, is humble and self-effacing, and shows how important it is to her to connect meaningfully with her audience. The original heart drawing is symbolic of romance, and tells of a sweet, emotionally charged nature who dreams of love.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF2100000578-5972769-image-m-2_1532048589129.jpg)
ADELE Her signature is a metaphor for hitting all the right high notes, before she finally comes back down to earth. The crescendo is seen in the tall stems that reach right up high, and then peak, with little loops revealing the imagination she injects into her aspirations for greatness. The small capital letter ‘A’ for ‘Adele’, joined to the ‘D’, is humble and self-effacing, and shows how important it is to her to connect meaningfully with her audience. The original heart drawing is symbolic of romance, and tells of a sweet, emotionally charged nature who dreams of love.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BDCF00000578-5972769-image-a-5_1532048869531.jpg)
![MARK ZUCKERBERG The Facebook founder has a highly original signature — more like a mathematical equation — which means his thinking is also highly original. The elaborate starting stroke on the letter ‘M’ shows that he needs winding up before he can get himself going. It’s almost as though he needs a springboard to initiate action. Emotion is controlled rather than felt — although there are distortions in the letter ‘M’ that highlight personal anxiety and worry. Those big, fat, bloated lower loops show someone who is astute in his handling of people — the American entrepreneur is good at winning them over by bringing empathy to the table. But those loops are also called ‘money bags’ — he’s someone who is hell bent on making lots of money who won’t give up till they’re rich.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF4C00000578-5972769-image-a-3_1532048637520.jpg)
MARK ZUCKERBERG The Facebook founder has a highly original signature — more like a mathematical equation — which means his thinking is also highly original. The elaborate starting stroke on the letter ‘M’ shows that he needs winding up before he can get himself going. It’s almost as though he needs a springboard to initiate action. Emotion is controlled rather than felt — although there are distortions in the letter ‘M’ that highlight personal anxiety and worry. Those big, fat, bloated lower loops show someone who is astute in his handling of people — the American entrepreneur is good at winning them over by bringing empathy to the table. But those loops are also called ‘money bags’ — he’s someone who is hell bent on making lots of money who won’t give up till they’re rich.
![LILY JAMES She may have made her name playing very beautiful, feminine women but Lily James — Lady Rose in Downton Abbey — has a strong masculine streak. This is a dynamic rather than a feminine woman (see that huge ‘L’), someone who demands attention. Just look at that ‘jumped up’ surname. She’s fundamentally entrepreneurial, making up the rules as she goes along. A tough cookie who likes getting her own way, she doesn’t like being told what to do or questioned about how she goes about things. Mentally alert, she can twist her way out of any unpleasantness — that thin thread connecting her letters shows charm and diplomacy. That said, Lily is a difficult lady to get to know.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBFA800000578-5972769-image-a-6_1532048880670.jpg)
LILY JAMES She may have made her name playing very beautiful, feminine women but Lily James — Lady Rose in Downton Abbey — has a strong masculine streak. This is a dynamic rather than a feminine woman (see that huge ‘L’), someone who demands attention. Just look at that ‘jumped up’ surname. She’s fundamentally entrepreneurial, making up the rules as she goes along. A tough cookie who likes getting her own way, she doesn’t like being told what to do or questioned about how she goes about things. Mentally alert, she can twist her way out of any unpleasantness — that thin thread connecting her letters shows charm and diplomacy. That said, Lily is a difficult lady to get to know.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BC8500000578-5972769-image-a-8_1532048933173.jpg)
![THERESA MAY Our Prime Minister has buckets of pride and dignity, but she also loves the limelight, as can be seen by the evidence of her huge capital letters and vertical slant. She can also be a bit of a show-off, particularly if the platform allows her intelligence to shine, as shown by those arched connections (or ‘arcades’) between letters. But let’s face it, she’s no-nonsense, effective and a finisher, as shown by the complete ‘y’ loop. Nor does she suffer fools. The illegibility of her first name indicates that she doesn’t want to be questioned about her methods. Caution and lack of spontaneity are prevalent — note those arched shapes and narrow letters — and, as we’ve seen, she’s tenacious, hanging on and refusing to let go. The trouble is that that her upright, illegible and narrow hand means she can come across as aloof, detached and unresponsive.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBFA100000578-5972769-image-a-7_1532048922904.jpg)
THERESA MAY Our Prime Minister has buckets of pride and dignity, but she also loves the limelight, as can be seen by the evidence of her huge capital letters and vertical slant. She can also be a bit of a show-off, particularly if the platform allows her intelligence to shine, as shown by those arched connections (or ‘arcades’) between letters. But let’s face it, she’s no-nonsense, effective and a finisher, as shown by the complete ‘y’ loop. Nor does she suffer fools. The illegibility of her first name indicates that she doesn’t want to be questioned about her methods. Caution and lack of spontaneity are prevalent — note those arched shapes and narrow letters — and, as we’ve seen, she’s tenacious, hanging on and refusing to let go. The trouble is that that her upright, illegible and narrow hand means she can come across as aloof, detached and unresponsive.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BD1900000578-5972769-image-a-10_1532048971527.jpg)
![DONALD TRUMP This is the signature of a power-conscious alpha male shouting on paper. A narcissist and a man with a God complex. But he’s also someone you’d want fighting your corner. The disproportionately huge capital letters reveal his pride, while the pointed angular tips to both upper and lower case ‘Ds’ show his wild ambition, dynamism and fearlessness. But is there substance behind the domineering facade? Undoubtedly, yes. The regularity of his script reveals someone who likes dealing in facts, so while he may lack empathy, what you get is someone who needs (and provides) practical solutions for practical problems. His flooded ink-filled ovals reveal a filthy temper, though. So ignore or interrupt this writer at your peril!](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF8B00000578-5972769-DONALD_TRUMP_This_is_the_signature_of_a_power_conscious_alpha_ma-m-12_1532049007985.jpg)
DONALD TRUMP This is the signature of a power-conscious alpha male shouting on paper. A narcissist and a man with a God complex. But he’s also someone you’d want fighting your corner. The disproportionately huge capital letters reveal his pride, while the pointed angular tips to both upper and lower case ‘Ds’ show his wild ambition, dynamism and fearlessness. But is there substance behind the domineering facade? Undoubtedly, yes. The regularity of his script reveals someone who likes dealing in facts, so while he may lack empathy, what you get is someone who needs (and provides) practical solutions for practical problems. His flooded ink-filled ovals reveal a filthy temper, though. So ignore or interrupt this writer at your peril!
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BBC600000578-5972769-image-m-15_1532049080350.jpg)
![DUCHESS OF SUSSEX GOODNESS knows what Meghan’s hiding behind the carefully constructed mask. This is the stylised handwriting of a woman who is good at creating a facade and to whom appearance matters very much indeed. The little touches, like that flamboyant hook at the start of her ‘M’, reveal that once she has set her heart on something, nothing will stop her until she’s satisfied her goal. The calligraphic hand tells of a desire for the nice things in life, and its regularity reveals intense self-discipline. She’ll not leave anything to chance — she has very high standards and the motivation for this is social approval. Meghan can be a little apprehensive in the face of anything new, however, and the small round letters in the middle of her signature indicate a surprising lack of confidence. This is a romantic, passionate and devoted woman, albeit one who is self-protective.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF9400000578-5972769-image-m-13_1532049021680.jpg)
DUCHESS OF SUSSEX GOODNESS knows what Meghan’s hiding behind the carefully constructed mask. This is the stylised handwriting of a woman who is good at creating a facade and to whom appearance matters very much indeed. The little touches, like that flamboyant hook at the start of her ‘M’, reveal that once she has set her heart on something, nothing will stop her until she’s satisfied her goal. The calligraphic hand tells of a desire for the nice things in life, and its regularity reveals intense self-discipline. She’ll not leave anything to chance — she has very high standards and the motivation for this is social approval. Meghan can be a little apprehensive in the face of anything new, however, and the small round letters in the middle of her signature indicate a surprising lack of confidence. This is a romantic, passionate and devoted woman, albeit one who is self-protective.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BA6000000578-5972769-image-a-17_1532049136943.jpg)
![BORIS JOHNSON Another public show-off. Boris is an equally diligent politician who’s determined to bask in the limelight, showing off his superior intellect — as seen by the large arcades and what is known as a ‘diligence loop’ on the bottom of the ‘B’. But the way the ‘O’ in Johnson is linked to the letter ‘H’ — this is called an ‘arrogance arcade’ — shows he also wants to be different and set himself apart from others. This makes him feel individually important, but he runs the risk of coming across as conceited or condescending. The open, connected ‘Os’ also show a man good at talking the talk. This is fast writing — original and creative with clever linking — revealing a bright, spontaneous, self-motivated, forward-thinking risk-taker. And the rising baseline reveals that he’s also the eternal optimist. The irregular style of writing and angle means he loves a challenge and is good at improvising. And that extended long endstroke is an extravagant, controlling gesture, which suggests aggression.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF8400000578-5972769-image-a-16_1532049100744.jpg)
BORIS JOHNSON Another public show-off. Boris is an equally diligent politician who’s determined to bask in the limelight, showing off his superior intellect — as seen by the large arcades and what is known as a ‘diligence loop’ on the bottom of the ‘B’. But the way the ‘O’ in Johnson is linked to the letter ‘H’ — this is called an ‘arrogance arcade’ — shows he also wants to be different and set himself apart from others. This makes him feel individually important, but he runs the risk of coming across as conceited or condescending. The open, connected ‘Os’ also show a man good at talking the talk. This is fast writing — original and creative with clever linking — revealing a bright, spontaneous, self-motivated, forward-thinking risk-taker. And the rising baseline reveals that he’s also the eternal optimist. The irregular style of writing and angle means he loves a challenge and is good at improvising. And that extended long endstroke is an extravagant, controlling gesture, which suggests aggression.
![JEREMY CORBYN Like Boris, Jeremy loves to talk but takes time to consider what he’s going to say or do before he expresses himself. As the rest of the signature is joined up, he absolutely hates being interrupted when he’s on a roll. Going back to the long, horizontal bar on the ‘J’, it’s above rather than touching the rest of the letter revealing he’s idealistic. But the length means he’s quite domineering and keen to impose his will on others. He has a power complex, and he’d like to be authoritarian. The ‘B’, which is open at the baseline, is a sign of dishonesty. This is someone who, at the very least, might not always tell the truth. And the first ‘Y’, which is small and crossed low with a loop, means he wants to be appreciated but currently feels impotence of some kind.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF7C00000578-5972769-image-a-18_1532049168544.jpg)
JEREMY CORBYN Like Boris, Jeremy loves to talk but takes time to consider what he’s going to say or do before he expresses himself. As the rest of the signature is joined up, he absolutely hates being interrupted when he’s on a roll. Going back to the long, horizontal bar on the ‘J’, it’s above rather than touching the rest of the letter revealing he’s idealistic. But the length means he’s quite domineering and keen to impose his will on others. He has a power complex, and he’d like to be authoritarian. The ‘B’, which is open at the baseline, is a sign of dishonesty. This is someone who, at the very least, might not always tell the truth. And the first ‘Y’, which is small and crossed low with a loop, means he wants to be appreciated but currently feels impotence of some kind.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E69BC4600000578-5972769-image-a-20_1532049403061.jpg)
![EMMA WATSON Emma Watson has two little full stops at the end of her carefully constructed signature. Not one, but two. It’s a compulsive affectation, indicating anxiety and effort, thoroughness and self-drive. Her professional image and personal identity are intertwined, and she’s a control freak, who puts herself under immense pressure and stress to perform, both on screen and behind the scenes. And it’s all because she’s obsessed with maintaining her security and ‘luvvie’ status. The little ‘zigzag’ underlining reveals her determination to be noticed. She loves the material trimmings in life. Despite her outward confidence, the final downstroke in the letter ‘N’ doesn’t touch the baseline which means that she doesn’t always believe in her own abilities. So there’s underlying feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability — she’s human after all!](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/02/4E6BBF7800000578-5972769-image-a-19_1532049352656.jpg)
EMMA WATSON Emma Watson has two little full stops at the end of her carefully constructed signature. Not one, but two. It’s a compulsive affectation, indicating anxiety and effort, thoroughness and self-drive. Her professional image and personal identity are intertwined, and she’s a control freak, who puts herself under immense pressure and stress to perform, both on screen and behind the scenes. And it’s all because she’s obsessed with maintaining her security and ‘luvvie’ status. The little ‘zigzag’ underlining reveals her determination to be noticed. She loves the material trimmings in life. Despite her outward confidence, the final downstroke in the letter ‘N’ doesn’t touch the baseline which means that she doesn’t always believe in her own abilities. So there’s underlying feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability — she’s human after all!